Card-operated lock controller



Jan. 25, 1966 FIG.|

R. B. M LAUGHLIN ETAL 3,231,693

CARD-OPERATED LOCK CONTROLLER Filed Jan. 4, 1963 INVENTORS ROBERT B.MCLAUGHLIN LOUIS PRAHM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,231,693CARD-OPERATED LOCK CONTROLLER Robert B. McLaughlin, 538 Madison Way, andLouis Prahm, 833 Hamilton Ave, both of Palo Alto, Calif. Filed Jan. 4,1963, Ser. No. 249,360 9 Claims. (Cl. 20044) This invention relates to asecurity lock. More specifically, the invention provides a lock whichcan easily be set for unlocking by insertion of a card having a specialconfiguration. The unlocking configuration can be changed at will,quickly and easily, to stop previously used cards from working. Theremarkable advantages of such a lock will become apparent as thedescription unfolds. For the first time, a lock which does not use a keyin the normally thought-of sense of the wordi.e., a piece of metal ofstrength designed to operate tumblers-has become available. Yet the lockof this invention has features hitherto impossible with keyed locks; andit can be sold at a competitive price. v

Practically all the good quality key-opened locks sold today arevariations on the cylinder lock developed by Yale in 1861. During theintervening century, unfortunately, their construction has become sofamiliar that a skillful burglar with proper tools can open most of themin less than five minutes. In addition to this disadvantage, keys arefrequently lost; and although a lost key completely jeopardizessecurity, few people are willing to undertake the expense of changingtheir locks merely because a key is lost. A more serious problem ariseswhen all keys to a given lock have been lost. In this event, the choicelies between replacement or re-keyingand both operations are costly.

- At first glance, it would appear that combination locks would provideall the answers; yet such locks are expensive, and unless they are infrequent use, their combinations are forgotten. Furthermore, combinationlocks are a nuisance, because of the slow operation time.

Various attempts have been made to devise satisfactory keyless locks. U.S. Patent 2,931,953 uses cards with magnetized spots in place ofconventional keys. It would be at least equally diflicult, if not moreso, to change the combination of magnetized spots required for unlockingas to change the tumblers in a keyed lock. In consequence, this type oflock often fails to provide the necessary additional security.

Another type of lock using light beams, shown in US. Patent 3,029,345,is costly to manufacture, and suffers from the same disadvantages as themagnetic cards. Other similar schemes have been attempted, but as yetnone has become sufiiciently practical to challenge the conventionalkeyed lock.

The present invention provides a keyless lock which is safe, easilychanged, and practical from the standpoint of both size and cost. It canreplace a keyed lock in almost any installationin doors, automobiles,safe-deposit boxes, file cabinets, and the like, to take just a fewexamples.

Briefly, the lock of this invention employs a pair of correspondingcards. The first card remains in the lock, and is used for pre-settingit in such a manner that it can be opened only by insertion of thesecond corresponding card. Within the lock is a plurality of two-elementseriesconnected switches coupling a signal source to an unlockingmechanism operated in response to a signal. Each element in the switchesis movable, and may assume at least two different positions. The greaterthe number of such possible positions, the greater the number of usableunlocking combinations. The position of the first element of the pair ineach switch is determined, or set, by the first card establishing apattern. Only when the second element of all the pairs is set in acorresponding pattern will all the switches become conductive, and onlythen will the signal pass from the source through the series-connectedswitches to the unlocking mechanism. The lock is then unlocked.

The first card, which presets the lock in such a manner that it may beopened only by the corresponding second card, should be located in aninaccessible positioneither inside the door (if a door is to be locked)or bolted into the lock. However, changing the set card need not becomea terribly difficult operation-a guest in the house would probably bequestioned if spotted while working on the lock with a wrench, butshould the home owner wish to change his lock setting, the few-minutejob with the wrench would involve far less trouble and expense than thatpreviously required by rekeying or cylinder changing.

The second card corresponds to the first, and is usually fabricatedsimultaneously. Once the set card has been inserted, the second card maybe used to operate the lock in the same manner as a key; but since theactual operation of unlocking is electric, no turning or twisting of thecard is required. The card is merely inserted in a slot, and the lockautomatically unlocks.

An important advantage of the locks of this invention is that each oneof them is identical to every other one, and so mass production is madepossible. This could never be done with conventional lock cylinders. Inaddition, all keys are eliminated. Cards may be made of heavy paper,plastic, metal, or any inexpensive material desired. Motels, forexample, may imprint their advertising on the cards for guests to retainas souvenirs. The lock setting can be changed immediately upon a guestsdeparture, so that never again can a guest-thief return to use his card(or a duplicate) to pilfer the motel room or rob its subsequentoccupants. The possible number of different card combinations islimitless. Where extreme security is desired, as in the case of safes, alarge number of switches may be used, or the locks may be pyramided inseries, each with a different card.

Moreover, these locks provide real safety. Even if a thief Were inpossession of a complete set of 4000 cards, one of each combination, andmade trial of one every four seconds, it would require over four hoursfor him to exhaust all the combinations of a twelve-switch lock. Shoulda card be lost, all that is necessary is to remove the set card, and toinsert a new one in the lock and to issue new unlocking cardscorresponding to the new set card. The finder of the old card canaccomplish nothing with it, for the card no longer operates the lock.

The unlocking card may be kept in a wallet along with credit cards andother valuables without creating a bulge, and without falling of its ownweight from the wallet into a pocket.

The above features, as well as the particulars of the locks themselves,will be more fully appreciated from the detailed description of theinvention which follows. erence is made to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a somewhat schematic plan view of the keyless lock of oneembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken in the plane 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is the transverse sectional view shown in FIG. 2, showing theinsertion of the two cards into the lock;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of one of the cards used in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a somewhat schematic representation, in section, of anarrangement of the switches and cards for another embodiment of theinvention;

FIG. 6 is a somewhat schematic representation, in section, of anarrangement of the switches and cards such that the two correspondingcards bear a reciprocal, rather than a duplicate, relationship to eachother;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic representation of another embodiment ofthe invention using a switch having more than two positions for eachelement; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view of -a card used in the embodiment represented inFIG. 7.

Referring now to FIG. 1, coil 1 represents a solenoid connected with alock. When powered, this solenoid is actuated to unlock the lock. Thisunlocking may be permanent (until the lock is reset) or momentary(allowing just enough time, for example, to open a door). The details ofthe unlocking mechanism depend to such a great extent upon the nature ofthe lock and its specific application that no attempt is made here toelaborate. However, sufilce it to say that all these unlockingmechanisms are done in response to an electric signal to a transducer,such as a solenoid. The lock is powered from a power supply shown asbattery 2. This battery should be long-lived, in order that frequentchanges may be avoided. Mercury batteries are quite satisfactory forsimple installations, and will last many years. Cadmium cells may beused where more power and greater longevity are required. Many othertypes of power supplies may also be used, but it is preferable that thechosen one be independent of local power failures.

The unlocking mechanism 1 and power source 2 are connected in serieswith a plurality of switches 4. The current path through theseries-connected switches (six are illustrated) is completed only whenall are closed simultaneously. The serpentine current path thus achievedis apparent from FIG. 1.

Operation of the individual switches employed in this embodiment of theinvention may be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3. In FIG. 2, the switches are seenin the neutra position, where neither card has been inserted into thelock. When the elements are metal leaf-springs, they will assume a flatneutal position. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, a pair of elements5 and 6 have upper contacts 7 and 8, and lower contacts 9 and 10,respectively. In the neutral position, both lower contact 9 on element5, and lower contact 10 on element 6 are in contact with metal contactbar 11. Elements 5 and 6 are thus in electrical contact with each other.Similarly, when there are no cards in the lock, all pairs of elementsshown in FIG. 1 above are in electrical contact with each other, and theserpentine current path through battery 2 and coil 1 is complete.

Block 12 in FIG. 2 is part of the lock. Side 13 of block 12 is exposed,exhibiting the slot 14 for insertion of the unlocking card. This slot 14is preferably curved, to prevent visual ascertainment of the switchelement positions and to hinder tampering. Slot 15, which receives thesetting card, is not so exposed, and may therefore be straight. Thisslot 15 is covered by a solid cover 16, which may be fastened to block12 (as shown) by bolt 17. This bolt should usually be located in such amanner that it is not removable from the outside; if it were, a thiefcould remove the set card and insert one of his choosing. Being then insole possession of the corresponding card, he could operate the lock atwill.

FIG. 3 shows the same lock illustrated in FIG. 2, but with the duplicatecards now inserted into both slots 14 and 15. In describing theoperation of the cards, reference will be made to a single switch,having elements 5 and 6; in practice, however, the card may move any oneor any combination of the switch elements of the lock. Card 18, shown inplan view in FIG. 4, has three extensions 19, and so can move the threeof the six switch elements show in FIG. 1 which correspond to thosethree extensions. Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, let it be assumedthat element 6 is one of the elements correpsonding to an extension 19of set card 18. With bolt 17 unfastened, the card 18 is inserted intothe lock. Extension 19, striking the end of element 6, will cause thatelement to move away from its contact with contact bar 11, and intocontact with contact bar 20, breaking the connection between elements 5and 6. Until these two contacts connect again, the series circuit of theswitches will remain open, and the lock will remain locked.

Now, when card 21 (an exact duplicate of card 18) is inserted, element 5will be similarly shifted from contact with bar 11 to contact with barby extension 19a. Elements 5 and 6 are now reconnected, and the circuitis again complete, just as if the two elements had remained in theneutral position.

From this description of a single switch, the following conclusion maybe reached: when all the elements are in the neutral position (no cardsinserted), all the switches will be closed. Each element will haveelectrical contact with its partner through their respective contactwith contact bars 11, and the lock will therefore remain unlocked. Toavoid any drain on the battery, a relay may be used to shut off thepower upon unlocking. The lock may remain open until the relay ismanually reset, or it may be adjusted for automatic reset when theunlocking card is removed, whichever is desired.

Whenever a set card 18 having at least one extension 19 is inserted, atleast one corresponding element 6 will be shifted from contact with bar11 to contact with bar 20. The circuit will be broken, and the lockremains locked. Any number of additional elements 6 may similarly beshifted (by additional extensions 19 on the set card) without affectingthe status of the lock. The moved elements 6 are in contact with theirrespective bars 20; the unmoved ones remain in contact with theirrespective bars 11.

Circuit connection can be restored only by moving all the correspondingelements 5 by inserting an exact duplicate of card 18 into slot 14. Thematching extensions 19a on card 21 will move all elements 5corresponding to the moved elements 6. The s-o-moved elements 5 and 6will then contact each other once more through their respective contactbars 20, while those elements 5 and 6 which were not so shifted willremain in contact with each other through their respective bars 11.Thus, in one way or another, all elements 5 will be in contact withtheir corresponding elements 6, the series circuit will be complete, andpower source 2 can send the required signal through coil 1 to operatethe lock.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the cards themselves have several importantadvantages over conventional keys. For example, they need not beelectrically conductive, since no electrical connections are madethrough them. (However, if buttons 22 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 wereinsulators, it would not matter if the cards were conductive.) Whereconductive printing on the cards is required to complete a circuit (ashas been proposed in the art), greasy fingers can defeat the operationof the lock by coating the circuit with a film. Moreover, conductivecards cost far more than those of paper, or plastic, and cannot beeasily reproduced in the home.

Suppose, for instance, that one member of a family has mislaid her card.She could telephone another member (even one out of town), and requestthe number and spacing of extensions 19. Using a blank card having allextensions present, she need only remove the superfluous ones from theblank. By so duplicating the proper combination she obtains the propercard to unlock her door. This solution is impossible with keys.

Should a card be lost, the owner need only unfasten cover 16 (FIG. 3) (afew-minute operation) and replace the former set card with a differentone. The finder of the former card will be absolutely unable to openthe. lock.

At first glance, the illustration of FIG. 3 might seem to indicate thata thief need only depress all the switches with a smooth card in orderto operate the lock. Such an action, however, would merely move all theelements 5 from contact with .bar 11 to contact bar 20. No connectionwould be made with any elements 6 not previously moved by the set card18. The burglar would be successful only when the set card in the lockcontained all possible extension 19but such a card would never be used,for this very reason. The only other way for the burglar to try to openthe lock would be to run through an entire deck of cards having all thepossible permutations and combinations of extensions 19a formidabletask. Thus the purchaser of this lock can obtain as much security as hedesires, limited only by the number of switches and/ or locks employed.Using two twelve-switch locks in series, for example, about two yearswould be needed to try all possible combinations.

The lock illustrated in FIG. 5 operates in the same manner as theprevious embodiment, with the arrangement of the switches somewhataltered. Contact bar is the neutral contact, and contact bar 31 is thealternate contact. Without cards in the lock, all the elements 32 and 33are in contact with each other through neutral contact 30, as shown.When a set card 34 having an extension corresponding to element 32 isinserted, that element is shifted away from bar 30 into contact with bar31. Element 33 is similarly shifted by the corresponding unlocking card35. The required cards are identical pairs, of the same kind shown inFIG. 4.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 6 operates somewhat differently. In thislock, the circuit is normally open (and the lock locked) except when acard 36 having extensions corresponding to all of the setting elements37 is inserted. Such a card will move all the setting elements away frombar 38 (their neutral bar) and into contact with bar 39. Now all theelements will be connected in series, and the switch will conduct.

However, when a set card 36 containing only some extensions motivatingelements 37 is used, only those elements 37 which correspond to theseextensions will be shifted to contact their corresponding elementsthrough bars 39. The unmoved elements will not make such contact, forthey will remain in contact with bars 38, and the lock will remainlocked. The unlocking cards 41 will not need to move the group ofelements 40 now in contact with their mates through bars 39, but mustshift all the other elements into contact. Unlocking card 41 thereforewill be the reciprocal of card 36, having extensions where there werespaces, and vice versa. Those elements 40 corresponding to the unshiftedelements 37 will be shifted from bar 39 into contact with bar 38, wherethey will make contact with those unshifted elements 37 to complete thecircuit. The relationship between set card 36 and unlocking card 41 isno longer duplicate, but reciprocal or complementary.

A further embodiment of the invention is shown schematically in FIG. 7.This lock makes possible more different combinations without increasingthe number of switches or the size of the cards. Set card 40 is insertedin the same manner as set card 18 in FIG. 3; it causes plunger 41 toslide metal brush 42 along bar 43 for a distance corresponding to thelength of the extension on the card. A typical card 44 used in theswitch of FIG. 7 is shown in FIG. 8. This card has three positions orlevels for the extensions on its edge configuration, instead of the twopositions previously described. The lowest position 46 corresponds tothe low position or space on the cards of FIG. 4, and does not affectplunger 41 at all. Brush 42 therefore makes contact with metal contact48 on bar 43; this is the neutral position. The second level or position47 on edge causes plunger 41 to slide brush 42 along bar 43 to thesecond metal contact 49. The third position 50 causes plunger 41 toslide brush 42 along bar 43 to the third metal contact 51.

Brushes 42 and 52 will be located at the same contact of bar 43 (andtherefore in electrical contact with each other), only when the positionof the extensions on set card 40 corresponds to the position of theextensions on 6 unlocking card 53. When all the brush pairs 42 and 52are in contact with each other, the series-connected switches willbecome conductive, and the lock will be operated.

Since each switch in this embodiment has a choice of three switchingpositions rather than two, the number of possible combinations isproportional to a power of 3 rather than 2. A twelve-switch lock, forexample, would offer over 500,000 combinations instead of about 4000.This embodiment becomes particularly advantageous in situations wheresafety is of paramount importance, as in safes and the like.

Now that a detailed description of some embodiments of the invention hasbeen presented, some other important advantages of the locks of thisinvention can more readily be appreciated. All locks of a given type(for instance, the twelve-switch, two-position lock) are identical, andso may be mass produced. One of the 4000 pairs of cards is inserted toset the lock. The card pairs may be stamped from cardboard or plastic atnegligible expense, or plastic comb-like cards can be produced inquantity, having all the extensions on each card. By using small pliers,the user may then remove any desired combination of extensions on two ofthe cards. One card may then be used to set the lock and the other oneto operate it. Should the purchaser wish to use the same combination forall his locks, he could then have only a single card to carry in hiswallet to operate them allhis front door, his automobile, safe-depositbox, file cabinet, oflice safe, and any others he might choose. No morebulky keyrings to tear holes in his pockets, no more fumbling for keyson a dark nightone card would operate all. For greater security, thecombination could be changed periodically, since this would require onlya few minutes for each lock.

The locks of this invention can be set to accommodate related locks withthe same card by a very simple procedure. Consider, for example, thesituation where each tenant is an apartment building required access tohis own apartment, and also needed to be able to open the front door. Ifa 15-switch lock of this invention were installed on all doors, twelveof the switches could be used to operate the apartment locks, and theother three switches in the apartment locks would be permanentlyconnected in the conductive position. Each apartment card would bedesigned to use a different combination of the twelve non-connectedswitches, so that each card would open only one apartment. In the frontdoor lock, the twelve switches corresponding to the apartment lockswould be permanently connected, and the remaining three switches set inany desired sequence, which would, of course, match the correspondingpositions on all the tenants cards. The positions chosen need not beconsecutive extensions any three of the fifteen switches, adjacent ornot, may be selected, providing an extra security factor. Such a systemis termed a mutually inclusive card system.

Mutually exclusive systems are also possible. Assume the apartmentbuilding in the above example to have a supply room, for cleaningequipment and the like. The manager will of course need to open both thefront door and the supply room, but the tenants would be permitted toopen the front door only (in addition to their own apartments, ofcourse). The managers card may be used for both the front and the supplyroom, if all the locks were provided with additional switches. Theseswitches would be permanently connected on the apartments and on thefront door. Therefore it would make no difference whether or not thetenants cards had extensions in these positions. However, the managerscard, and only his, would have the necessary extensions to control theadditional switches on the supply room lock, and therefore only he couldopen it.

One more example-the typical master key situation: let it be supposedthat the manager desired to have access to all the apartments. Formaximum security, two groups of series-connected switches could beconnected in parallel, so that either group, if properly connected,would operate the lock. Two unlocking slots would. then be visible. Themanagers master card would be such to connect one set of switches, andthe tenants cards would each connect the other in his own apartment.Alternatively, if only one group were desired, a lock having twentyswitches might be employed, and so wired that either of two differentsets of connections (wired in parallel) would cause the lock to operate.The managers card would connect one set of switches, and the tenantscards the other set. Either would again open the lock. If desired, aswitch on the inside of the door could disenable the master cardswitches. This would allow a hotel room guest guaranteed privacy, frommaids and hotel employees, for example.

Similarly, where a lock is desired necessitating the presence of twopersons at the same time for unlocking, two sets of the switches of thisinvention may be connected in series with each other. One persons cardhas the extensions required for connecting one set, and the otherindividuals card has the required extensions for the other set. In thiscase, the lock will operate only when both cards are inserted.

This invention also makes possible telegraphic operation. If a safe werenot to be opened until orders arrived from headquarters, the set cardcould be inserted and the configuration withheld. At the desired time, asimple coded message could be sent to the efiect that extensions areneeded in positions 1, 3, 5, 8, etc. The person in charge of opening thesafe could then quickly prepare his card from a blank provided, and thesafe would be opened within a few minutes.

From the above description, it is apparent that the ap plications of thelock of this invention are limitless. Those skilled in the art will findmany other uses made possible by modifications and improvements on theabove disclosure which are clearly within the scope of the invention.Therefore the only limitations to be placed on that scope are those setforth in the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two element mechanical switches,one element of each of which is movable to a predetermined one ofalternate positions, and means for setting said one element into saidpredetermined one position; and a second element of which is movablefrom one position to an alternate position in response to the receipt ofa card inserted into said controller, each such switch being closed onlywhen said second of its elements is in a position which corresponds tothe position of said one element; and

(b) card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage said secondelement of each of said switches into said corresponding position,thereby, upon receipt of such card, closing all of said switches andforming a series circuit through all of said switches.

2. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable from one position to analternate position in response to the receipt of a first card insertedinto said controller; and a second element of which is movable from oneposition to an alternate position in response to the receipt of a secondcard inserted into said controller, each such switch being closed onlywhen said second of its elements is in a 8. position which correspondsto the position of said first elements; and

(b) a pair of card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage saidfirst and second elements of each of said switches into saidcorresponding position, thereby upon receipt of such cards, closing allof said switches and forming a series circuit through all of saidswitches.

3. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable from a neutral position to aplurality of alternate positions in response to the receipt of a firstcard into said controller, and a second element of each of which ismovable from a neutral position to one of a plurality of alternatepositions in response to the receipt of a second card into saidcontroller, each such switch being closed only when said first elementis in a position which corresponds to the position of the other;

(b) a first card mean-s having an edge with an extended portion tononconductively edgewise engage said first element of said switches intoa predetermined position; and

(c) a second card means having an edge with extended portions whichcorrespond to those of said first card to edgewise nonconductivelyengage and move the other element of said switches to the position whichcorresponds to the position to which said first element has been set,thereby closing all of said switches and forming a series circuitthrough all of said switches.

4. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two-element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable between two positions inresponse to the receipt of a first card inserted into said controller,and a second element of each of which is movable between two positionsin response to the receipt of a second card into said controller, eachsuch switch being closed only under one of the following two conditions:

(1) when said first element is in a first of its said two positions andsaid second element is in a position which corresponds to the said firstposition of said first element, and

(2) when said first element is in the second of its said two positionsand said second element is in the other of its said two positions whichcorresponds to said second position of said first element;

(b) a first card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage saidfirst element of each of said switches in a predetermined one of saidtwo positions; and

(c) a second card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage saidsecond element of each of said switches into the position whichcorresponds to said predetermined position in which said first elementis set, thereby closing all of said switches and forming a seriescircuit through all of said switches.

5. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when :a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passedto said unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two-element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable between a neutral position andan alternate position in response to the receipt of a first cardinserted into said controller, and a second element of each of which ismovable between two positions in response to the receipt of a secondcard into said controller, each said switch being closed only when bothof the following two conditions are present:

(1) when said first element is disposed in its neutral position and saidsecond element is disposed in a position corresponding to said neutralposition of said first element, and

(2) when said first element is disposed in said alternate position andsaid second element is disposed in the position corresponding to saidalternate position;

(b) a first card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage saidfirst element into a predetermined position and (c) a second card meanscoded to nonconductively edgewise engage said second element of saidswitches into the position corresponding to said predetermined positionof said first element, thereby closing all of said switches and forminga series circuit through all of said switches.

6. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two-element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable between a neutral position andan alternate position in response to the receipt of a first cardinserted into said controller, and a second element of each of which ismovable between two positions in response to the receipt of a secondcard into said controller, each said switch being closed only when bothof said twoelements are disposed in the same position;

(b) a first card means coded to nonconductively edgewise engage oneelement of said switches into a predetermined position; and

(c) a second card means coded to edgewise nonconductively engage andmove said second element of each of the same ones of said switches intosaid alternate position, thereby closing all of said switches andforming a series circuit through all of said switches.

7. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of series-connected, two element mechanical switches, afirst element of each of which is movable between a neutral position andan alternate position in response to the receipt of a first cardinserted into said controller, and a second element of each of which ismovable between two positions in response to the receipt of a secondcard into said controller, each said switch being closed only when bothof the following two conditions are present:

(1) when said first element is disposed in its neutral position and saidsecond element is disposed in a position corresponding to said neutralposition of said first element;

(2) when said first element is disposed in said alternate position andsaid second element is disposed in the position corresponding with saidalternate position;

(b) a first card means coded to set one element of said switches into apredetermined position;

(c) a plurality of slidable buttons, one in contact with the secondelement of each of said switches, said buttons adapted, when caused toslide, to move said second elements from their neutral position to theiralternate positions; and

(d) a second card means having an edge having at least one extension,the location of said extensions corresponding to the location of saidslidable buttons so that when said card is inserted into saidcontroller, each such extension will cause its corresponding slidablebutton to slide, thereby moving the corresponding element of saidswitches from its neutral position to its alternate positioncorresponding to the predetermined settings of each said first elementsof each switch, thereby closing all of said switches and forming aseries circuit through all of said switches.

8. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a card is inserted therein causing said signal to be passed tosaid unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of sets of series-connected two-element mechanicalswitches, said sets being connected in parallel to each other, a firstelement of each of said switches being movable from one position to apredetermined one of alternate positions in response to the receipt of afirst card inserted into said controller, and a second element of eachof said switches being movable between two positions in response to thereceipt of a second card into said cont-roller, each such switch beingclosed only when one of its elements is in a position which correspondsto the position of the other;

(b) a first card means for each set of switches coded to nonconductivelyedgewise engage said first element of each of said switches in one ofits said plurality of positions; and

(c) a second card means for each set of switches coded tononconductively edgewise engage said second element of each of theswitches in the set into the position which corresponds to the settingof each of said first elements in said set, thereby closing all of thesaid switches in such set of switches and forming a series circuitthrough all of said switches.

9. In a lock having an unlocking means adapted, in response to anelectric signal, to unlock said lock, the controller for unlocking saidlock when a plurality of cards are inserted therein causing said signalto be passed to said unlocking means, said controller comprising:

(a) a plurality of sets of series-connected two-element mechanicalswitches, said sets being connected in series with each other, a firstelement of each of said switches being movable between a plurality ofpositions in response to the receipt of a first card inserted into saidcontroller, and a second element of each of which is movable between twopositions in response to the receipt of a second card into saidcontroller, each such switch being closed only when one of its elementsis in a position which corresponds to the position of the other;

(b) a first card means for each set of switches coded to nonconductivelyedgewise engage said first element of each of said switches in one ofits plurality of positions; and

(c) a second card means for each set of switches coded tononconductively edgewise engage said second element of each of saidswitches in that set in the position which corresponds to the positionin which each of said first elements is set, thereby, when cards areinserted into said controller, closing all of the said switches in allof said sets of switches and forming a series circuit through all ofsaid plurality of sets of switches.

(References on following page) References Cited by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Taylor 200 -42 Gaynor 200-159 Noregaard 200-46 X Avdeenko200-46 Parker 359 Holzer 20046 Levine et a1. 359

3,139,519 5/1964 Reinschmidt 20046 X FOREIGN PATENTS 1,091,773 10/1953France.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

H. A. LEWI'ITER, Assistant Examiner.

1. IN A LOCK HAVING AN UNLOCKING MEANS ADAPTED, IN RESPONSE TO ANELECTRIC SIGNAL, TO UNLOCK, THE CONTROLLER FOR UNLCOKING SAID LOCK WHENA CARD IN INSERTED THEREIN CAUSING SAID SIGNAL TO BE PASSED TO SAIDUNLOCKING MEANS, SAID CONTROLLER COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OFSERIES-CONNECTED, TWO ELEMENT MECHANICAL SWITCHES, ONE ELEMENT OF EACHOF WHICH IS MOVABLE TO A PREDETERMINED ONE OF ALTERNATE POSITIONS, ANDMEANS FOR SETTING SAID ONE ELEMENT INTO SAID PREDETERMINED ONE POSITION;AND A SECOND ELEMENT OF WHICH IS MOVABLE FROM ONE POSITION TO ANALTERNATE POSITION IN RESPONSE TO THE RECEIPT OF A CARD INSERTED INTOSAID CONTROLLER, EACH SUCH SWITCH BEING CLOSED ONLY WHEN SAID SECOND OFITS ELEMENTS IS IN A POSITION WHICH CORRESPONDS TO THE POSITION OF SAIDONE ELEMENT; AND (B) CARD MEANS CODED TO NONCONDUCTIVELY EDGEWISE ENAGESAID SECOND ELEMENT OF EACH OF SAID SWITCHES INTO SAID CORRESPONDINGPOSITION, THEREBY, UPON RECEIPT OF SUCH CARD, CLOSING ALL OF SAIDSWITCHES AND FROMING A SERIES CIRCUIT THROUGH ALL OF SAID SWITCHES.